Future Relevance of Identified Organizational Measures for Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Delphi Study

The COVID-19 pandemic engendered massive restrictions in all areas of our social and work lives. Companies and organizations have had to make extensive adjustments to their working conditions and processes. Fifty-two interviews at 33 companies and organizations were conducted to gain insights to help companies and organizations to cope with the pandemic. The applicability and future relevance of these findings were ascertained in a practice-oriented and systematic manner in a Delphi study. For this purpose, 17 statements were formulated, which were evaluated by 21 experts from different areas based on their suitability for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their suitability for working outside a crisis situation. The assessment dimensions considered included general usefulness and company-specific relevance. The results show that not all of measures introduced in response to the pandemic can be transferred on a one-to-one basis to a period of time outside a crisis situation. Based on the results, however, it can be assumed that the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a long-term change process in companies and organizations and that some of the measures introduced in the short term can also contribute to increasing value creation and improving working conditions in the future.